Cole Custer returning to NASCAR Cup Series in 2025

Cole Custer is returning to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2025, piloting the Haas Factory Team's No. 41 Ford Mustang.

The 26-year-old made the announcement Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he will drive in the Xfinity Series race for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Custer drove for Stewart-Haas Racing from 2020-22, winning once, but struggled and was sent to the Xfinity Series in 2023. He won the title last year and leads the points standings this season.

Custer got his first win of 2024 last week at Pocono.

Stewart-Haas Racing is shutting down at the end of 2024, but team co-owner Gene Haas is rebooting with his new team. In a statement Saturday, Haas said Custer was the right driver for the Haas Factory Team.

"He just wins, and he's proven that repeatedly," Haas said of Custer in a team news release. "On his way to winning the Xfinity Series championship last year, Cole really carved out an identity for himself, on the track and off. He brings home trophies and he races people clean. He's earned a lot of respect from his peers, and he's a genuine personality whose hard work resonates with our customers.

"The NASCAR Cup Series is tough, but Cole is coming back wiser and tougher. We're very happy to have him in our colors and in our race car."

Custer said he was happy, too.

"I've grown up with Haas Automation, and having their name on my fire suit is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in. I'm driven to win for Gene and everyone at Haas Automation because they've been such a big part of my career," Custer said. "Haas Factory Team will essentially be a new race team next year, and it's going to take all of us to build it into an organization that can go out and win races. I want this opportunity and I'm ready for this challenge."

--Field Level Media